In a video address to his compatriots on Sunday night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy admitted that more than four months after the start of the war, his country was going through an emotionally difficult phase. Nevertheless, he is still confident of victory. Previously, Moscow had reported the capture of the strategically important city of Sievjerodonetsk. At the same time, Russia announced the delivery of missile systems to neighboring Belarus. These can also be equipped with nuclear warheads. Several explosions can be heard in the capital Kyiv in the early morning. Eyewitnesses reported rockets. The night of the war at a glance.
Zelenskyj: Will recapture all cities
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants to recapture the cities occupied by Russia. He said so in his evening video address on Saturday. He referred to Sievjerodonetsk, Donetsk and Lugansk. Melitopol and Mariupol have not been forgotten either. "All other cities of Ukraine temporarily occupied will be Ukrainian." His country needs more military help. Ukraine is in a morally and emotionally difficult phase of the war. "We understand that we can still protect the state," said the head of state. However, he does not know how great the losses and efforts will be until victory is on the horizon.
Kyiv and Moscow confirm capture of Sieverodonetsk
Selenskyj expressly mentioned the city of Sievjerodonetsk in the east of the country, which should again be under Ukrainian control in the future. Both Moscow and Kyiv confirmed the capture by Russian troops. An adviser to the President of Ukraine, Oleksiy Arestovych, said according to the Unian agency that fighting continued in the region. The city's mayor, Oleksandr Strjuk, said the pro-government troops had moved into different positions. The information could not be independently verified.
Civilians allegedly brought from chemical plant
According to information from Moscow, the chemical plant Azot in Sievjerodonetsk, which was recently converted into an air raid shelter, is now controlled by pro-Russian units of the Luhansk separatists. It was initially unclear how many people sought shelter there. The separatists claimed to have "evacuated" 800 civilians. Where they were taken remained unclear.
Explosions in the capital Kyiv
There were several explosions in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv early Sunday morning. Ambulances and rescue workers are on duty in the Shevchenko district, Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote in the Telegram news service. Anton Herashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine's interior minister, wrote that eyewitnesses reported seeing rockets. It was initially unclear whether there were injuries or deaths.
Fighting also continues in other parts of the country
According to Zelenskyy, Russia fired 45 rockets at the neighboring country within half a day on Saturday alone. There should also have been victims. According to the authorities, at least three people were killed and four others injured in an attack on the western Ukrainian city of Sarny. A car wash and a workshop were hit, the head of the military administration said, according to the Unian news agency. He blamed Russia for it.
Nuclear research center in Kharkiv under fire
The nuclear research facility "Neutron Source" in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv has again come under fire. Buildings and infrastructure such as ventilation ducts were damaged, the nuclear regulatory authority said. The part of the facility where the nuclear fuel is stored was not mentioned in the damage listing. No increased radiation was found. Ukraine blamed Russia for the attack.
Russia wants to station nuclear-capable missiles in Belarus
Russia plans to deploy Iskander-type missile systems to neighboring Belarus in the coming months. President Vladimir Putin promised the Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko - his close ally. The Iskander-M could "carry both ballistic missiles and cruise missiles - both conventional and nuclear," Putin said. According to the media, they have a range of up to 500 kilometers.
US government praises Germany's role
Ahead of the start of the G7 summit in Bavaria, the US government has lauded Germany's role in supporting Ukraine following Russia's attack. The fact that Germany is also supplying "deadly weapon systems" to Ukraine is very important, said the Communications Director of the National Security Council in the White House, John Kirby. He alluded to the delivery of heavy weapons, against which the federal government had initially blocked. Germany, on the other hand, had made other weapons available. That will be important on Sunday
That brings the day
You can read all further developments in our live ticker on the Ukraine war.
